Springborg, Seeney, Simpson

Queensland opposition leader Lawrence Springborg has quit. The reason given “to spend more time with his family” is often a euphemism, but in this case it’s the real deal. I thought Springborg was the best of the National party leaders I’ve observed, with the arguable exception of Mike Ahern.

His replacement, Jeff Seeney has always struck me as a thug and, from the reports I’ve seen, I’m not alone in this view. Since he has no chance of becoming Premier, except if he can manage to push through a merger with the Liberal party, and hold on to the leadership of the combined party, I don’t suppose this matters too much.

I managed to ignore Fiona Simpson altogether in my Fin piece last week, writing that the Nats had been wiped out on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts (Mark Bahnisch alerted me to this error). Simpson has held the seat of Maroochydore for some time an now she’s popped up as Deputy Leader. I’ll chance another unchecked assertion and say that this is the most senior parliamentary position to be held by a woman in the National Party. please feel free to correct this.

Karlene Maywald is the leader of the Nationals in South Australia. Not that there’s much competition – she’s the only Nationals MP. But, unusually, she’s also in the Rann Labor Cabinet, as Minister for Regional Development. She’s excused Cabinet solidarity outside her portfolio, by the by.

The only leader the National Party has had was Joh. The rest have been varying degrees of ponces. The only possible exceptions being Borbidge (who for reasons known only to himself chose to fall on his sword electorally) and Springborg, who has probably had a gutful of pushing it uphill, which is what leading the National Party in Queensland has become.

Hal: Russell Cooper is of the highest integrity. Something which cannot be said of all party leaders.

As the leader of a party he was nothing to jerk one’s thumb at.

Rather unfortunate that Mackenroth didn’t do gaol time. Instead he endured a short banishment, then returned to the ministry.

Bringing down Mackenroth is something which I am very savage about. Mackenroth was in the very act of introducing a bill which would have made it possible to defend against home invaders without fear of legal repercussions for the victim.

In short, we could have clobbered burglars & only the burglar could have been charged. THANK YOU russell cooper, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!

According to the Pollbludger Fiona Simpson is a woman of many strong views:
Simpson has won headlines over the years for proclaiming her virginity in her maiden speech, calling for castration and public floggings for rapists and violent criminals and describing the Goss government as “a toad to the radical homosexual lobby”.
She strongly supported the party merger idea:http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=2785
She has an Arts degree, one point in her favour.

All I remember of Borbidge now is that I felt sorry for him being lumbered with Sheldon – a bit like Sprinborg with Flegg so perhaps a blessing in disguide they lost. The ‘bor’ sound in national party leaders is a worry though, subliminally speaking.